Coffee can support weight-loss efforts and reduce the risk of obesity—but only when it’s consumed properly.
Coffee has long been a controversial topic in research because of its mixed reported effects. We often hear conflicting views about this popular beverage.
According to a study published on March 14 in BMJ Medicine, calorie-free caffeinated drinks can help with weight loss and lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, the authors emphasize that more research on coffee is still needed.
The research team—experts from Uppsala University in Sweden, Imperial College London, the University of Bristol, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine—used a genetic analysis method called Mendelian randomization to examine links between variations in the ERAP2 gene and risks of autoimmune disease and infection.
The study involved 10,000 people (mostly of European descent) whose genetic traits are related to how quickly caffeine is metabolized in the body.
Results showed that nearly half of the participants had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes due to weight loss. Caffeine appeared to help burn fat, boost metabolism, and curb appetite—factors that contribute to lowering diabetes risk.
Dr. Dipender Gill, a clinical scientist at Imperial College London, noted that further research is needed to confirm these findings.
The study also found that individuals with genetic traits for slower caffeine metabolism typically drink less coffee but maintain higher levels of caffeine in the blood. These individuals tend to have lower body mass index (BMI), less body fat, and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared with others.
Consuming three to five cups of coffee per day may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and certain cardiovascular diseases, although more evidence is required to fully validate this effect.